Joel Bitonio retires as one of the most decorated linemen in Cleveland Browns history with seven Pro Bowl nods and two first-team All Pro honors.
The Cleveland Browns are dealing with a major personnel loss as longtime left guard Joel Bitonio announced his retirement on Tuesday, writing a farewell letter after 12 seasons all spent with Cleveland. After the franchise drafted him No. 35 overall in 2014, Bitonio has signed three consecutive contracts with the Browns and never played elsewhere.
Per his letter, he got to a “certain point” that he knew it was time to hang things up at and knew he wanted to do that in Cleveland. That time has now come after seven Pro Bowl selections over 12 seasons, which ties with now-Los Angeles Ram Myles Garrett for the fourth-most in franchise history. He also was selected first-team All-Pro in 2021 and 2022.
His accolades continue, as his 178 career starts are the most by any Browns player since the franchise returned to Cleveland back in 1999. He also won the coveted Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2022 and the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award winner twice in 2018 and 2023.
To read more about the longtime franchise legend’s retirement, here is the full story from Browns Roundtable writer Spencer German.
Bitonio was the longest tenured player on the roster prior to his contract voiding back in March, which made him a free agent. He came back for one final year last season after thinking over retiring last season.
The Browns will now look to the future under new head coach Todd Monken with a retooled offensive line as six of them hit free agency this offseason. To revamp things, they traded for right tackle Tytus Howard, re-signed guard Teven Jenkins, and signed interior OL Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins.
They also used their No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft to select left tackle Spencer Fano. However, the heart of the offense in Cleveland is now departing, and that void will be hard to fill on and off the field.
